Combined rule and square.



PATENTED EEB. 5., 1907.

H. s. HUMES.

COMBINED RULE AND SQUARE.

APPLIGATION FILED I`B.7.1905.

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UNITED sTATns PATENT erica.

HARRY S. HUMES, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONF-HALF TO THE YOUNG BUILDING AND INVESTMENT COMPANY, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

COMBINED RULE AND SQUARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1907.

Application tiled February 7, 1905. Serial No. 244,528.

T0 all whom, it Tita/y concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY S. I'IUMns, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Rule and Square g and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a measuring instrument adapted to perform the functions of a carpenters rule and square. The performance of these two functions usually requires two instruments.

My chief object is to so modifyy the construction ef the measuring instrument ordinarily termed the carpenters rule that, while still adapted to perform all the funetions of a rule, its members shall be allowed to assume the position of the members of a square or any other position between the straight-line position and the position forming right angles with each other.

It is well known that an ordinary carpenters rule has reached its limit of movement when the members are moved away from each other whereby they are caused to assume the straight-line position.

In my improved device the members after assuming the straight-line position are capable of moving an additional ninety degrees, whereby the two members occupy positions at right angles to each other.

My improved instrument is also equipped with a locking device whereby the two rule members may be locked in any position of adjustment. The members have a movement of two hundred seventy degrees, while the ordinary rule, as will be understood, only has a movement of one hundred eighty degrees.

Having briefly outlined my improved. construction, as well as the function it is intended to perform, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying' drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

Inthe drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a carpenters rule shown in the closed position and equipped with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a simi lar view with the outer jointed arms removed and the two main members partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a view of the outer extremities of the outer hinged members when thrown backwardly from the main members. This view illustrates the opening' or socket which the thumb-nut enters when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the reverse side exposed. Fig. 5 illustrates the device after the members have been moved through two hundred seventy degrees from the parallel position, whereby the outer edges of the rule are made to assume positions at right angles to each other. Fig. (5 is an edge view of the two main members ef the rule equipped with my improvements, Fig. 7 is a similar view looking at the opposite edge. Fig. S is a detail view of the oint extremity of one of the main members. Fig. 9 is a similar view of the co1'- responding extremity of the other main member. In Figs. 8 and 9 the members are made to assume positions similar to those shown in Fig. 5, the only difference being that in Figs. S and 9 the two main members are detached from each other.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let 'the numerals 5 and 6 respectively designate what I will term the two main members of a pocket-rule adapted for use by carpenters, bricklayers, and other mechanics.

The ordinary so-called two-foot rule consists of four members-two main members 5 and 6 and two other members, designated 7 and 8 and hinged to the outer extremities of the vmembers 5 and 6, as shown at 9.

My invention relates more particularly to the construction whereby the two main members 5 and 6 are so connected that they are adapted to turn from the position shown in Figs. l and 2, to the position shown in Fig. 5, thus permitting a movementof two hundred seventy degrees instead of a movement of one hundred eighty degrees, as in an. ordinary rule. The member 6 is provided with a part 10, adapted to enter the bifurcated extremity of the member 5, the said bifuroated extremity consisting of two separated parts 12 and 13. ',lhe parts 10, 12, and

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13 are connected by a centrally-located rivet 14. Surrounding this rivet the part 12 of the member 5 is graduated to indicate angles. The part 6 is further provided with a plate 15, having an offset 15a, whereby it is adapted to overlap the outer portion A of the part 12, which part A passes between the plate 15 and the part 1() of the member 6. This part 15 is provided with a shoulder 15, which travels around the graduated dial of the part 5 and serves as an indicator to designate the various angles formed by the two members during their travel. The parts 15 and 10 of the member 6 are provided with an apertured lug B to receive a screw 16, which passes therethrough and is provided with a head 17, which slightly overlaps the part 13 of the member 5. The threaded extremity of this screw projects beyond the plate 15,

18. By tightening this nut the bifurcated exextremity of the number 5 is clamped between the nut-head 17 and the plate 15, whereby the two rule members 5 and 6 may be locked at any point of their two hundred seventy degrees of travel. The member 5 is provided with a recess 19, adapted to receive the lug B of the member 6 when the parts 5 and 6 are adjusted to occupy the parallel or closed position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4.

In order to prevent the thumb-nut from being lost or accidentally removed from the screw 16, the threaded extremity of the nut is upset or enlarged sufficiently to prevent the removal of the nut. The length of the screw is such that this upset Yor enlarged end will prevent the nut when loosened from moving farther than the position shown in Fig. 1. This feature will facilitate the manipulation of the device, since when the nut is loosened it will always be in position to enter the recess formed in the auxiliary folding members 7 and S.

In order to allow the two members 5 and 6 to assume the position shown in Fig. 5, the member 6 is cut away on opposite sides, as shown at C, while the bifurcaied extremity of the part 5 is cut away, as shown at D, Fig. 6, and when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5 the shoulders E on opposite sides of the part 6 abut against the part 6, whereby the movement of the members 5 and 6 ceases.

The auxiliary members 7 and 8 of the rule are cut away on their inner edges, as shown at 20, in order to make room for the thumbnut when the members 7 and 8 are folded to the position shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved device will be readily understood. The device is capable of use as an ordinary carpenters rule and may be locked in any position from the parallel to the straight line position or at any .6 5 point which it assumes during its one hunand to this extremity is applied a thumb-nut dred. eighty degrees of travel, the face of the member 5 being graduated to indicate the various angles formed by the two mem4 bers during this movement. With this exe ception the operation of the rule is exactly the same within the said range of movement as 'the ordinary rule. The ordinary rule, however, is provided with abutting shoulders, which prevent it from moving beyond the straight-line position. On the contrary, my improved device, when the thumb-nut is :sufficiently loosened, is allowed to travel ninety degrees farther or to assume the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, whereby the members 5 and 6 are adapted to perform the function of a square, as heretofore stated. I/Vhen in this position, the outer edges of the members 5 and 6 occupy positions perpendicular to each other and forming a right angle with a sharp unobstructed corner.

It will be understood that after the members have traveled ninety degrees from the parallel position they will occupy a position at right angles to each other and may be locked to retain this position; but the device when in this position does not form a sharp angle, since the inner edges of the said members do not intersect each other. In other words, the parts forming the joint extend into the angle when the members are in this position and prevent the device from performing the function in all respects of a square. When, however, the two members are given an additional half-turn or moved one hundred eighty degrees farther, they as sume the position perpendicular to each other, with the planes of the outer edges of the members 5 and 6 intersecting each other, the corner formed by the members having no obstruction whatever, thus adapting the device for use in performing the function of an ordinary square as well as all the other functions of a rule and angle measure.

It must be understood that my invention is not limited to its application to a carpenters or mechanics rule of ordinary construction, since it may be employed to advantage in connection with any two members jointed, as the members 5 and 6, and connected 'as heretofore described.

I further wish. it to be understood that I ldo not limit the invention to the details of construction shown and herein explained, as I am aware that the construction may be modified in its details vwithout departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- Y 1. An instrument of the class described comprising two substantially twin members having a joint provided with overlapping disk portions, the said members being jointed to travel in the same plane two hundred and seventy degrees from the parallel position, causing them to assume positions perpen- IOO dicular to each other and forming' an unobstructed ninety-degree angle, one oi the disk portions being graduated and the other being provided with an indicator lfor the purpose set lorth.

2. An instrument ol: the class described comprising two members having' a oint provided with overlapping disk portions, the said members being jointed to travel in the same plane two hundred seventy degrees from a parallel position, causing them to form an unobstructed ninety-degree angle, the said members being' provided with means to prevent farther travel.

3. An instrument ot' the class described, comprising two members ointed to travel in the same plane two hundred seventy degrees 'trom the parallel position causing them to assume positions perpendicular to each other and 'lorming an unobstructed ninety-degree angle, one of the members having' a graduated dial and the other an indicator' lier measuring' on the dial-angles assumed by the members during' their travel.

4. An instrument of the class described comprising two members having a oint provided with overlapping disk portions, the said members being jointed to travel in the same plane two hundred seventy degrees from the parallel posit'ion causing them to assumo at their limit of travel positions perpendicular to each other and with the apex oli their interior angle unobstructed at the point where the members intersect, and means lor locking' the two members against movement at any point of travel.

5. In an instrument of the class described, the combination ot' two members having a pivotal joint provided with overlapping parts, the two members when in the parallel position being adapted to meet each other, one member having a lug located at its inner extremity adjacent to the overlapping parts of the joint, and the other member a recess to receive the lug' when the parts are closed, and afastening device passed through the lug' of one member and having' its center in the meeting line of the two members when parallel, the parts being' connected to interlock when the fastening device is tightened.

6. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of two members having' a pivotal joint provided with overlapping disk portions, the two members when in the parallel position being adapted to meet each other, one member having a lug located at its inner extremity adjacent to the overlapping parts of the joint, and the other member having a recess to receive the lug' when the parts are closed, and a screw passing' through the lug of the one member and having' its center in the line of division of the two members, the parts being' connected to interlock when the screw is tightened,

7 .In an instrument of the class described, the combination of two members having' a pivotal joint provided with overlapping parts, the two members when in the parallel position being adapted to meet each other, one member having a lug at its inner extremity adjacent to the overlapping parts of the joint, and the other member a recess to receive the lug when the parts are closed, a screw passing' through the lug of the one member and having' its center in line with thel division olE the two members when parallel, and a thumb-nut applied to the screw, the parts being' connected to interlock when the nut is tightened.

S. In aninstrument of the class described, the combination of two members having a pivoted joint, the two members when in the parallel position being adaptedy to engage each other beyond the joint, one member having a lug located just beyond the jointed parts, and the other member a recess to receive the lug' when the parts are closed, a screw passing through the luv' of the one member and having its center inine with the line oi division of the two members when parallel, and a thumb-nut applied to the screw, the parts being connected. to interlock when the nut is tightened, the device also having 'folding auxiliary members recessed to receive the thumb-nut, substantially as described.

9. A carpenters rule composed of two main ointed members and auxiliary folding' members, a locking-screw centrally located between the members, and a thumb-nut applied to the screw, the folding members being recessed to receive the thumb-nut.

In testimony whereof I aIix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY S. I'IUMES.

IVitnesscs A. J. OBRIEN, JAMES E. YOUNG.

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